Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES.

PATENT QEFICE GEORGE H. MOGLOTHLEN AND CHARLES 'L. MOGLOTHLEN, OFCLARINDA, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT lN CAR-COUPLINGS. I

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,04l, datedSeptember 21, 1875; application filed August 21, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE H. McGLo'rH- LENand CHARLES L. McGLoTHLEN, both of Glarinda, in the county of Page andState of Iowa, have invented a new and valuable Improvement inOar-Couplings; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making'a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawingsis arepresentation of a side view, part insection, of our car coupling; and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3is an end view of the same.

This invention has relation to improvements in car-couplings wherein theusual pins and links are employed.

The object of the invention is to devise means whereby a link in thedraw-head of one of two cars approaching to be coupled may be raisedautomatically to ahorizontal position for entering the chambereddraw-bar of the other at the same time that the coupling-pin is raisedvertically out of the said draw-bar to allow of such entry, and forallowing the pin to fall'through the link and effect a coupling when theentry of the latter shall have been completed.

To this end the nature of theinvention consists in means, substantiallyas hereinafter described, for raising the link to a horizontal position,and in the means employed for raising and dropping the pin through thelink, as will be fully understood from the following description. Y

In the annexed drawings,A A designate two chambered draw-bars, which aresuspended from the ends of two railway-cars in the usual well-knownmanner, so as to have a slight vertical and lateral, as well as endwise,play. Draw-barAis provided with an oblong coupling-link, a, which isheld in position by meansof a pin, 1), and with alongitudinally-arranged link-lifter, B, the rear end ofwhich is rigidlysecured or pivoted to the rear end of the draw-bar, and is provided uponits front end with a cross-head, B, under the link, and provided withhandles or arms,

0, at each end, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The top of thisdraw-bar is provided with a knob, d, through which is made, from side toside, a perforation adapted to receive and hold a strong bolt, on theprojecting ends of which are coiled the arms 0 of a vertically-vibrating angular lifting or raising device, D, the object of which is' to raisea coupling-pin, E, in draw-bar A, under circumstances and by meanshereinafter clearly set forth. Pin-lifter D is preferably formed of astrong metallic rod bent so as to form two eyes, f, by means of which itis connected to knob d, a stop, f, by means of which the arms 0 of thelifter are held in a horizontal position, and at the ends of arms 0 twoinclined portions, 0, extending rearwardly a certain distance and then,bent outward to form arms g. Draw-bar A is provided withdownwardly-inclined projecting rods, E, arranged at each side, andprovided with a bent portion, h, the object of which will hereinafterappear. When the two cars are caused to approach for the purpose ofbeing coupled, the ends of rods E will become engaged under the handles0 on the cross-headed link-raiser 'B, causing the latter to be thrownup, thus raising the link to a horizontal position, and allowing it toenter the chamber of draw-bar A. At the same time the pin-lifter D willhave its pointed front end engaged underpins v projecting from apreferably prismatic pin, E, which is applied in the usual well-knownmanner in draw-bar A, causing the said pin to be raised free of thechamber in the said draw-bar, and allowing the pin to enter the same,The moment that the arms 9 on the end of lifter-D pass beyond thevertical plane of the pin the arms i of the latterwill escape from therestraint of the former, and will fall vertically .through the slot ofthe link in the draw-bar.- The pin and link being thus engaged thecross-headed link-raiser will fall through bends h inrods E to itsnormal position, ready set for subsequent operation, be-

cause of the reaction of a suitable spring, S, interposed between thesaid raiser and the draw-bar.

Pin E, as shown in figure, is guided during its upward and downwardmovements in a frame, G, projecting up from the draw-bar, through whichframe the upper end of the said pin passes. By this .mcansit isprevented from tilting to one side and becoming jammed, so that it willfail, when released, to fall through the link. It is provided with ashoulder, j, which prevents it from penetrating unduly into thedraw-bar. In practice, pin E will be raised in effecting an uncouplingby means of a chain or rope, H, attached to the upper end of the saidpin, passing upward over a pulley, k, on the end of the car, anddownward to aorank-arm, l, on a shaft, L, rotating in bearings on theend of the car; but it may beaccomplished from the top of the car bymeans of a rod, rope, or chain.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Ina car'couplin g, the combination ofthe draw-bar A, havinglink a, and averticallyvibrating link-raiser, B, and an angular pinlifting part, D,substantially as setforth.

3. The draw-bar A,-having lifter B, provid ed at its front end withcross-head B and arms 0, in combination with rods or Ways E on draw-barA, substantially as described,

and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that We claim the above we have I hereunto subscribed ournamesiu the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. MOGLOTHLEN. CHARLES L. MOGLOTHLEN.

Witnesses:

OHARLESE. MAYS, THOMAS B. MGGLOTHLEN.

